Hanging baskets "whats new"

Its that time to start thinking of what plants to have in "your hanging baskets" .

I have grown the "Bonfire series" and last year "Crackling fire" trailing begonias and they have exceeded all my expectations , slow to start but flower easily from July to October if the weather holds up and especially if we have a "Indian Summer" but do need a greenhouse for the first month or two , don't travel to well through the post either , leaves drop off and brittle stems don't help either, but so much cheaper to buy on line rather that individually at the garden center and the other downside they can be late getting sent out as in May, which I prefer to have early April to grow them on.

So anything new and exiting for 2014 to add to baskets that you have spotted or sticking to trusted old favorites.

I am still yet decided on what to have, its been "hot" with the colors past couple of years and only two varieties in each basket.

So much choice is the problem........

Spruce

 

I haven't even thought about my hanging baskets yets.
As a idea what about Clematis Repans ?
Can be grown in a hanging basket and nice yellow flowers trailing down

 

Looks a great plant to grow in a basket , but requires a sheltered garden from strong winds to grow well.

Not thought yet

 

Spruce , another new begonia from the B. Boliviensis family . (correction)B. SANTA CRUZ . Suggested by Trunky I think , new to me . I have them on order from brookside Nursery.

A new trailing petunia from a Japanese company Explorer White F1 from seed. Hope they look better then the fuzzy photo I could find!


Two new plants to me from last year which I am trying in a basket this year . Laurentia Avant-Garde Blue ( star flower ) and Moody Blues Phlox

 

I had this one last year its a cracker variety and doesn't stop flowering pinch out when about 6 inches then again in late June , it makes all the difference, I will be growing mine in John ines NO 2 as my "new begonia" book says that people who show begonia baskets use that for competitions,

here mine from last year "Crackling fire"

I use Chempack NO 4 1/4 strength to what it says on the packets Sunday & Wednesday from June onwards , this will really help with the formation of flowers.

 

Another newish one for 2014 is Sanvitalia ( Creeping Zinnia ) A lovely trailing plant with hundreds of small yellow flowers from June to November . Its a great basket / container plant but for some reason is not seen for sale at many GC's . Luckily our local nursery sells them . I am growing from seed this year , I tried about 5 years ago from seed but they struggled - lets hope 2014 is a winner !

Google image photo below

 

Just ordered these:
http://email.unwins.co.uk/rsps/wlnk/c/1712/r/246166/e/514
Jenny

 

H looks fab , I like yellow , cheers the sole

 

they look great as well Jens what compost are you going to grow in ??

Spruce

 

They look good Jenny! I/we expect piccies and a progress report later please.

 

Can anyone recommend any plants for a basket on a north facing fence? I know there's not a lot of direct sunshine until evening in summer but would any plants do ok there?

 

What about fern's , Fern

 

Begonias love the shady/north side Fern and these new Boliviensis wotsits sound worth a punt,
Jenny

 

I think a light peat based compost with some vermiculite, swell gel and hundreds and thousands food pellets?
Jenny

 

Jen I would do 50/50 mix with some John innes no 2 or 3 as its going to be in the basket for quite a while and perlite to open the structure up a tad .